Fire-retardant cloth structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a fire-retardant cloth structure, which is knitted by rib structure. The cloth structure includes first and second yarn elements in a ring pattern. The first yarn element includes glass fiber yarn and auxiliary yarn, and the second yarn element includes glass fiber yarn and fire insulating yarn. With this structure, the fire-retardant cloth presents better elasticity, good hand feel and comfort as well as a fire insulating effect with improved applicability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a fireproof material, and more particularly to an innovative material which is a fire-retardant cloth.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

The known fire-retardant cloth refers to a fireproof cloth that can insulate combustible substances and prevent the development of a fire hazard. The known fire-retardant cloth is generally made of glass fiber yarn in a woven structure coated with a layer of complex resin.

The following shortcomings are observed during actual applications:

-   -   1. Lack of elasticity: since fire-retardant cloth is applied to         some upholstery cushions (e.g. chair pads, sofa cushions and         mattress), better elasticity shall be required to match the         elastic packing materials. Given the fact that known         fire-retardant woven cloth is coated with a layer of complex         resin, the rigid surface structure is not suitable for         diversified applications.     -   2. Poor hand feel: since the typically fire-retardant cloth is         made of rugged glass fiber yarn and complex resin, the rough         surface makes it difficult to apply fire-retardant cloth         directly to the upholstery cushions, meanwhile a layer of soft         cloth must be covered over the fire-retardant cloth, leading to         higher cost.     -   3. Lack of comfort: as the typically fire-retardant cloth is         made of rather rigid glass fiber yarn and complex resin, it will         likely lead to lack of comfort when fire-retardant cloth is         covered onto the elastic filling, e.g. a sponge body, of         upholstery cushions.     -   4. Poor fire insulating property (a property of delaying         combustion): as the typically fire-retardant woven cloth has a         rather thin structure, a local perforation phenomenon may occur         in the case of combustion carbonization, and radiation heat         cannot be effectively insulated, resulting in a poorer fire         insulating effect.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict preferred embodiments of fire-retardant cloth structure of the present invention. The embodiments are provided only for explanatory purposes. A fire-retardant cloth A, knitted by a rib structure, comprises a first yarn element 10 and a second yarn element 20 in a loop pattern. The first yarn element 10 comprises glass fiber yarn 11 and auxiliary yarn 12. The second yarn element 20 comprises glass fiber yarn 21 and fire retardant yarn 22. The auxiliary yarn 12 is made of Polyester fiber/filament, Polyamide fiber/filament or wool. The fire retardant yarn 22 is made of Modacrylic, Viscose FR, PVC FR, Meta-Aramid and Para-Aramid.

The weight of glass fiber yarns 11, 21 in the first and second yarn elements 10, 20 accounts for 35-75% of fire-retardant cloth A.

The weight of auxiliary yarn 12 in the first yarn element 10 accounts for 10-30% of fire-retardant cloth A.

The weight of fire retardant yarn 22 in the second yarn element 20 accounts for 20-75% of fire-retardant cloth A.

Based upon above-specified structures, the fire-retardant cloth A of the present invention is knitted by rib structure, so that the first and second yarn elements 10, 20 are configured into a loop pattern, thus enabling better elasticity of fire-retardant cloth A. The first yarn element 10 comprises glass fiber yarn 11 and auxiliary yarn 12, and the second yarn element 20 comprises glass fiber yarn 21 and fire retardant yarn 22. So, said auxiliary yarn 12 and fire retardant yarn 22 can be made of materials with better hand feel, thus making up the shortcoming of ruggedness of glass fiber yarn 11, 21.

Since the fire-retardant cloth A of the present invention features excellent elasticity and hand feel as shown in FIG. 3, it can be applied directly to the surface (or lining) of chair 30. Referring to FIG. 4, the fire-retardant cloth A can also be applied directly to the surface (or lining) of sofa 40. Referring also to FIG. 5, the fire-retardant cloth A can also be applied directly to the surface (or lining) of mattress 50.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a partial enlarged schematic view of fire-retardant cloth of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged sectional view of position B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first application of fire-retardant cloth of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second application of fire-retardant cloth of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third application of fire-retardant cloth of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fire-retardant cloth knitted by rib structure presents the advantage of good elasticity, such that it can be used as an elastic surface or lining layer of upholstery cushions with improved applicability.

Based upon the structures of the present invention, the first yarn element comprises glass fiber yarn and auxiliary yarn, and the second yarn element comprises glass fiber yarn and fire retardant yarn. The fire retardant yarn can have better hand feel than glass fiber yarn, so that the hand feel of fire-retardant cloth can be improved greatly. In such a case, the fire-retardant cloth can be directly used as the surface of upholstery cushions with improved quality and diversified applications.

Since the fire-retardant cloth knitted by rib structure presents good elasticity, it can fully adapt itself to the shrinkage and expansion of elastic filling of upholstery cushions, thus improving the comfort, quality and applicability.

Based upon the fire-retardant cloth knitted by rib structure in a loop pattern in an overlapping configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the fire-retardant cloth has a thicker structure as compared to a typical woven structure of the prior art. In case the glass fiber yarn of the first and second yarn element is carbonized, the entire surface structure of fire-retardant cloth could be kept intact to insulate the radiation heat efficiently, thus yielding a better fire insulating effect.

The above is a detailed description of the technical features of the present invention based on a typical preferred embodiment. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is capable of a variety of embodiments and various modifications by those skilled in the art, and all such variations or changes shall be embraced within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A fire-retardant cloth structure knitted by a rib structure the cloth structure comprising: a first yarn element comprising glass fiber yarn and auxiliary yarn; and a second yarn element comprising glass fiber yarn and fire retardant yarn, said first yarn element and said second yarn element being in a loop pattern.
 2. The cloth structure defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary yarn is comprised of: Polyester fiber/filament, Polyamide fiber/filament and wool.
 3. The cloth structure defined in claim 1, wherein said fire retardant yarn is comprised of: Modacrylic, Viscose FR, PVC FR, Meta-Aramid and Para-Aramid.
 4. The cloth structure defined in claim 1, wherein said glass fiber yarn has a weight percentage of 35-75%.
 5. The cloth structure defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary yarn has a weight percentage of 10-30%.
 6. The cloth structure defined in claim 1, wherein said fire retardant yarn has a weight percentage of 20-75%. 